rain

Rain is condensed moisture from the atmosphere that drops on the Earth as water.

An example of rain is drops of water that fall from the sky.

rain

noun

water falling to earth in drops larger than 0.5 mm (0.02 in) that have been condensed from the moisture in the atmosphere

the falling of such drops; shower or rainstorm

rainy weather

seasonal rainfalls; the rainy season: preceded by the

a rapid falling or propulsion of many small particles or objects: a rain of ashes

Origin of rain

Middle English rein ; from Old English regn, akin to German regen ; from Indo-European base an unverified form re-, variant, variety of an unverified form reĝ-, moist, wet from source Classical Latin rigare, to wet, moisten: see irrigate

intransitive verb

to fall: said of rain, and usually in an impersonal construction: it is raining

rain

hyetography
the study of the geographical distribution of rainfall by annual totals. —hyetographic, hyetographical, adj.hyetologyRare. the branch of meteorology that studies rainfall. —hyetologist, n. —hyetological, adj.ombrology
the branch of meteorology that studies rain. —ombrological, n.ombrophobia
an abnormal fear of rain.
pluviography
the branch of meteorology that automatically measures rainfall and snowfall. —pluviographic, pluviographical, adj.pluviometry
the branch of meteorology concerned with the measurement of rainfall. —pluviometric, pluviometrical, adj.pluvioscope
an instrument for measuring rainfall; a rain gauge.
pluviosity
raininess. —pluvious, adj.udometry
the measurement of rainfall with any of various types of rain gauges. —udometric, adj.udomograph
a self-registering rain gauge.